New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-31
THE RHODE ISLAND CONTEST
REAL ISSUES BEFORE THE PEOPLE.

PROVIDENCE, IL. L., niaIcn QUA moWpoA VA va
Democratic State Central Committee said the othe
day that he did not expect to see Davis elected Gov
ernor but he did think his party would carry the Gen
eral Assembly. While that danger just now aoos no
seem very pressing one, yet in view OF the many
agencies at work in opposition to the hepubiioaI
party. 1t is worth while to look the matter ~
the face Deceived by the hue and cry OF "Iht
Journal" and the clique OF newsraper writers nc
sneeze when 1t takes snuf, many honest ana wei
meaning Republicans might DC led TO yote ior Demo
cratic legislative candidates If they did not realize
the full Significance OF such acton In the Pfesen'
General Assembly there ore only fourteen Democrats
ont OF total membership OF lO0 Iney arc TOO lew
and incompetent do any barn. But in the press, on
the stump in the corner grocery and sometimes IN .he
nails Of legislation there crop out evidences OF what
the Democrats would ii they secured control OF 'ne
In the frat place If there should DO no election for
Governor they would choose John w. Davis Tor tnal
position, regardless of his unttness TO "oriorm ~
duties and regardless OF his connection with the iegis
latlon of Last May, "Lch they so severely condemn
Secona-They would reveal the prohioiiory Ia" nn5
enact such laws as would lease the RUN element ana
mako prohibition odous in the eyes Oh the peopie.
This legislation would be coupled with measures for
the repeal OF the amendment ITSELF mus % r'
sober iud men than three hths oil the voters
Tbird-The Democratic Legislature wouid repeai
tb, District Court bill, re-establsh the thirty-s1
courts and elect as judges ior 'hrcc Jea's o"o0o
selection of Democrats. . -.
Judges would DO removed TO make room ior others
who could construe the Constitution more ia'oaoio 10
Democrats desires and IRON them secure an opinion
ia ;, orable to calling constituotal convention.
Fifth -This constitutional conventions II don,Ha .
by Democrats, would change the organizat ON OF tno
Senate by dividing tho State into Sc natoriai districts
according to population. thus deprvng the CO intry
towns OF their equal voice in the Upper Hoase Ibe
House OF Representatives would also be distributed
according TO population, without restriction, ana
Providence and Pawtucket would rule both Houses
absolutely The May session at Newport would DC
abolished, and Newports picturesque lection day
would be wiped from the calendar and Newports name
from the list OF State capitals. The suffrage laws
would be beralned to the point OF no restriction, al
the ancient safeguards OF the ballot being removed
1t almost needless say that prohibition would be
eliminated from a Democratic Constitution
Sixth-lt any vacancy should occur IN the Senate
representation from this State Democratic General
Assembly would elect q Democratic Senator.
Seventh-Al the power OF the Assembly would be
used TO influence the election for Congress IN the Hid
District. Tor the purpose OF choosing man who was
an outspoke1 Coppefhead when the Nation was in
peril and thus nully tho vote OF Rhode Island ia case
the next Presidential election is thrown into the
National House
These are a tow of the L" reforms" which might be
ex ,eced from Democratic General Assembly. II
one-hai OF these projected changes in the Constitution
and the laws carried into effect values would be
unsettled Business paralyzcd and the people punged
into political turmoil.
The khode island legislator receives the munif.ent
salary OF dollar day There IA nothing beyond
desire 10 render he public service and to crafty
laudable ambition to tempt bgb-n nded business or
OCCASIONAL man 10 land Tor such an unremun-raye
position. Therefore the position generally seeks the
man. and the various towns send up their bestknown
and abest men, who accept office at great personal
sacrifice The Republican nominations tor the Senate
and House this year better than the eTage.
but the average has always been an excellent one.
Notice, Tor instance, the ticket Tor the city OF ProSi
dence. for Senator, stephen A. Cooke j. Is renomi-
mated. MIR. Cooke is a lawyer OF much experience,
possessing n true judicial miod. lie Was Tor many
ears assistant city solicitor. His IN the Senate
has been brilliant and without Iaw. Albert H.
Calder heads the Assembly list from tho First Ward
lie is a prominent manufacturing Druggist and "a man
OF intelligence and capacity. Allen r. Young. wolf
TO do ctIzen who Is superintendent OF the Asbury NJ
r.. Sunday school. In the second candidate from the
First ard. The Second Ward desires To return John
Carter brown Woods. d young man who has been
Speaker Of the House and president ot the Common
{ ouncil will some day b1 Governor benjamin W.
"a wholesale coal dealer who has bad legslat
i've experience. is the candi sso from the Ihrd. Wall
lam n. Wool leading real estate broker is renom-
mated from the -Four. George l. Pierce is re.om-
mated from the Fifth. The SiN Ia presents the hon
cred name of Daniel r.. Day. From the seventh comes
q brilliant young adj ocate George y. West. who in
hall dozen wears ns risen DO leading GRIMM al
lawyer at the Providence bar Herbert ~ fcEner one
candidate from tho Eighth. IA TREASURER OF the New
In gland Butt Company, and George W. Prentice. the
other nominee from That ward II treasurer OF another
Important manufacturing company. Tie Ninth offers
the name OF William II Luther the head OF The most
extensive jewelry mandatory in the state. This In
the cnss OF men whom the Republicans like to elect
TO Office In the other cities and towns similar nom
nations arc made. The nominees are mon whom the
people feel confidence IN. and they propose TO show
hat confidence by eecting them.
The Democratic City Convention, after much flourish
)i uunipctr, bcOfueu inc alliance WIN Tue
winch The journal" offered them, troited out the
customary list of noninees. varied, Il ID true by in
,ludng tine ime OF the Hon thomas w. Davis. good
Jld whose fourecOre years eniitle him 10 aosptv
rom political turnvil MIR DAVIS elo cted 10 Con-
gress ia S53 by l75 majority but when he stood tor
reelection in 1875 he WA buried by 4,Ol2 majority.
he Democrats also nominated Joseph ii. Banks, "a
negro and the secrcary OF the Democratic City Com
nittee told me that this nomination would Dring them
800 coloTed votea This man. young Ia political
experience in years, did not know that the Demo
had ice before unavailngy tried to tempt the
,olOred vote from its allegiance TO the party which
freed the slaves by nominating colofed man Tor
representative. The candidate before Ihoinas
Jefferson. The Republicans OF Newport last year not
)nly nominated a cOlOred man hut also elected him.
and ho has sometimes been called TO the pIerd,De
Jfllccr's chair.
II is surprising to notice how ltue political follow
ng The Journai has cOn-iot rns tho wide circula
ion OF It's morning ani evening usucs and its orner
habit OF speaking with Authority. Notwithstanding
tho constant appeals OF that paper TO Republicans to
evolt against what II mslicously terms Weimores
money and Brayton's management" not a single
Republican comcs out and exp himself either in
print, III convention the stump ia iavorng John
". Davis. The Republican opposition seems TO DO
confined entirely TO The journal ITSELF and even
William O.. Rocker, one OF the directors OF ." The |
Journal Company. ia expected to take the stump for
v gilmore. This is not the hrst time that e Tho
Journal has bolted In 1873 it opposed the election
II Henry Lipptt. tho Republican nominee tor Cover
i0r but IN that 1t bad "A candidate aud strong one
It that-k)w Wand Hazard-and tho party was ger |
eptibly divided. leading Republicans following The
iuence was known and feared Hazard polled more |
'oes than Lipptt in that instance but prohibition
ssue was the partial cause. Mr.. Lpptt was elected
Governor by the General Assembly. But the touch OF
Inc master hand Is not seen IN that newspaper now as
I in 1875. The only effect OF IT, editorials on |
Republicans seems 10 be To arouse feeling of bitter
estntm mt. As an evidence OF the public feeling u |
,aper issued TOR the campaign and woiuly deficient In
many respects has EMO, ed street sale greater than
nat OF tho old established newspapers, and has been
ncOui aged to hope to establish itself perm,nenty
ieanwhIle tho campaign goes bravely on. Republican
uDs arc forming ali over the State. Such able |
peakors Professor Williams. Senator AlGrch Gen
raj Rogers, George j. West Raihbone Gardner Con |
SDOoner and others nightly ON the stump
nlightenpg the people to and false Issues
Il this remarkable contest. The Democrats to be |
ure. profess TO be very hopeful They claim that their
anvass OF the city shows majority Tor Davis OF |
ZOO. AS Governor Wetmoro last year went out of
he city with 1884 majority and 2,0G3 plurality that
anvass is q little too unanimous to be beli,yed
Tho Republican party has controlled this State tor
twenty-five years. The debt OF Rhode leland Is |
81 800. 900, funded at 3 per cent max n tax of |
nly ~ cents each 100 No other Stat al lou